Posture inducing device



Nov. 25, 1941. L. ARKIN 2,263,670

POSTURE INDUCING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5. 1939 Patented Nov. 25, .1941 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE so. Applicationgztuiiib, lilo. 288,623

This invention relates to a posture inducing device adapted to be worn in the neighborhood of the abdomen. and to advise the wearer when the abdominal muscles have relaxed and an improper posture has been assumed so that the wearer will tense the musclesand resume the proper posture. This application is a continuation-inpart of my copending application SerialNo. 185,-

539, filed January 18, 1938.

muscles tensed and Fig. 2 a paunchy figure due.

to the relaxation or the abdominal muscles;

Fig. 3 is a persp'ective view of such a girdle which carries a device embodying onevform or vthis invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged" perspective view the device shown in Fig.3; 1

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a device embodying another form of this invention;

Fig. 8 illustrates a modification of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

, As a matter of convenience in supporting the device a belt or girdle I0 is usually employed but,

as pointed out above, the use of such belt or girdle is not essential and other means may be employed to support the device.- The device 'm'aybe secured directly to the belt but preferably the belt'is equipped with straps H to which the devices are The primary object of this invention is to pro- 10 secured. The straps H may be shifted along the vide a device adapted to be worn at'the abdomen belt so that the devices will coast with those p'orand which, whenever the abdominal musclesare tions of the abdomen preferred by t e wearer. Q relaxed, will act in one way or another to serve The device l5 shown-in Figs. 3 an 4 comprises as a signal to the wearer that such relaxing has aback plate IBSand a pair of arms fl fixed at the taken place so that the wearer will instantly and ends to the ends oi the plate. The free ends of almost involuntarily tense these I muscles and lthe arms overlap one arm carrying a grooved thereby assume the proper posture. Such a deblock lliand the other arm carrying a pin l9. vice, which may take ny one of several f r i The pin l9 extends parallel to thegrooves of adapted t be worn e eighborhood of the the block l8 and the arms, areof spring material abdomen, usually but not necessarily out of con- 20 so related to each other that the pin I9 r sts in tact the w be Supported in ny desired one of such grooves 20. When pressure isapanne y Separate belt o girdle, y the plied against the outer face or the outer'arm 'I'I, underwear, or other article of clothi and the free ends of the arm are swung about'the so constructed t when the, abdominal muscles fixed endsthereof. The pin l9 thereupon moves are relaxed, the wall of the abdomen will come from one groove t6 another, creating a, vibration into contact with or increase its contact with the which is communicated through the abdominal de thereby a s n an a r a 6011- wall to the wearer as-a signal that the abdominal dition to which the wearer will respon o react muscles have been relaxed and should be tensed.

nd 1183158 the abdominal muscles 80 that ch. Under some conditlonstherelative movementof I abnormal condition no l exists; the block l8 and pin l9 causes, in addition to the This abnormal condition maybe of ny yp vibration, a' noise which will serve as a further which will attract the attention of the wearer of signal t t a As shownm ig 3 and 4 this device. For example, a vibration may be set th device 5 1s mpunted upon th i dl by a up. or a q i k y a pr ciated n e. a. a whistle cross-plate 2| fixed to the back plate 16 and ator squeak y be created o an irritation may be tached to the belt or girdle through holes 2': m produced by local z d pressure- Q the ends thereof. v Various forms of devices embodying this inven- -pm 5 Shows e. 25 can-{ed by b u; o i= tion are set forth in -t e fo win descriptio! girdle It which acts when the abdominal muscles and show in l l mg are relaxed to establish a localized irritating pres- I which J 40 sure which obviously signals thewearer that such F 88- 1 and 2 i u ra a human figure Wearing relaxation has been permitted. As shown in the a belt Q girdle 1111011v which devlPes emmymg drawing, the device 25 includes bars 26 arran e this invention may be carried. Fig. 1 shows the in the form of a cross. obviously otherarmnge; figure in a normal posture with the abdominal .45 ments might beremployem The devices 30 and shown in- Figs. 6 and 7 respectively emit sounds which actas signals. The device 30 is a bellows, one wall 3| of which has a'passage 32 therethrough. inwhich passage is'mounted a reedorother element (not shown) which will emit a whistle when air is forced through the passage in one direction. The wall it is mounted upon a belt or girdle 33 and the other wall It normally rests lightly against or is near 6 and '1 illustrate devices embodying other g this invention; I Go the wall of the abdomen. when the abdominal 32 and causing vibration of the reed. The device 35 comprises the combination of abellows 38 4 mounted in a belt 33 and a ball 31 carried by the .6

bellows.

In the ball 31 is a passage 38 through which air is forced by the 'movement of the bel-' lows when the abdominal muscles-are relaxed. The bellows 36, like the bellows 30, normally rests lightly against or is near the abdominal wall. 7 10 Instead of mounting the device upon a separate belt or girdle, it may be suspended from a belt q or waistband ('see Fig.8). Thedevice an is similar in construction and operation to the device it. Instead of the attaching cross-plate 2i, how- 1 ever, the upper end of the back plate 4| is extended andgbent over so that the device may be suspended from a belt or band 42.

The use of various types of abdominal supports is well known, but such supports do not embody the present invention. The purpose of such supports is to supplement or-assist the muscles in holding the abdomen in the proper position; the

purpose of the present inventionis to ensure the independent use of such muscles and the invention acts only when the muscles are relaxed. In short, this invention actsnot as a supplement or substitute forthe abdominal muscles but as a f spur or incentive so that the muscles are kept relax so that the entire burden is assumed by the support.

The essence of this invention is the provision of a device which is inoperative when the abdominal muscles are tensed and a nroper posture assumed but which, when the abdominal muscles are relaxed, creates an abnormal condition which includes a signal of one sort or another whereby the wearer is made conscious of such relaxing and advised that the muscles should be tensed in order that a proper, posture be-assumed. While certain forms of devices embodying this invention have *been shown and-described, the invention is not limited thereto; since other forms might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth inthe'following claims.

I claim: f v 1. A posture inducing device adapted to be worn muscl'es are relaxed, the wall is advanced to- I ward the wall ll, forcing air through the'passage f in the neighborhood 0! the abdomen and nori, mally inoperative, and with which, when the I abdominal muscles are relaxed, the wall. of the abdomen comes into contact, creating an abnormal condition including a-signal which advises 'relatively movable elements which in response to the pressure of the abdominal wall create such a signal in the form of a local vibration which is transmitted to the wearer.

,2. A posture inducing device adapted to be worn in the neighborhood of the abdomen and nor-.

mally inoperative, and with which, when the abdominal musicles are relaxed, the wall of the abdomen comes into contact, creating an abnormal condition including a signal which advises-the wearer of the relaxation of such muscles and reminds the wearer to tense such muscles and assume a proper posture, said device comprising a back plate, a pair of spring arms each fixed at one end to the ends of the back plate, the free ends of the arms overlapping, a grooved block on the free endof one arm and a pin on the free end of the other-arm, said pin engaging said block and movable relative thereto 'by the abbominal wall when the abdominal muscles are relaxed to cause a vibration which serves as a signal to the wearer of the device.

3. Aposture inducing device adapted to be worn in the neighborhood of the abdomen and being inoperative when the wearer assumes a proper posture such device being so positioned that when the abdominal muscles are relaxed, the wall of the abdomen exerts pressure thereon, such deviceincluding a signal means set in operation in response to the pressure exerted by the wall of the abdomen thereupon, whereby the wearer is advised that 'theabdominal muscles are relaxed and reminded to tense such muscles and assume "'a proper posture.

4. A posture inducing device adapted to be worn in the neighborhood of the abdomen and being inoperative-when the wearer assumes a proper l 4 the abdomen thereupon, are actuated to 'emit an audible signal. 7 

